Gluvine (Glühwein)
Glühwein is a very popular mulled drink in German and Dutch-speaking countries, and in the border region of Alsace in France. It is the traditional beverage offered to guests during the Christmas holidays and New Year winter period. It is usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, star aniseed, citrus and sugar. Sometimes fruit wines such as blueberry wine and cherry wine are occasionally used instead of the traditional grape wine in Germany. Glühwein is drunk pure or ‘mit Schuss’, with a shot, which means there is extra rum or another strong spirit or liqueur added into a persons glass.
Gluvine Recipe
makes about 5 glasses
Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 Bottle of red wine
- 250 ml of brandy
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 2 large oranges
- 1 large lemon
- 100g of sugar (dark muscavado recommended)
- 1 star anise
- 1 vanilla pod (cut and the seeds scrapped out – both seeds and pod are added)
- 4 cloves
- grated nutmeg (a good pinch)
Recipe Method:
In a large pan pour in the bottle of red wine, add the sugar. Cut the lemon in half, while the oranges are cut into large chunks or slices, and add to the saucepan. Add in the cinnamon, star anise, vanilla pod, cloves and nutmeg. Put the pan on a low heat. When warmed through (for around 5 minutes) add in Brandy and turn off the heat. Use a ladle to serve warm, and add a slice of orange to the glass. Note: After the five minutes heating remove the 4 cloves to stop them continuing to infuse flavour, which will make the drink taste like ‘medicine’. Optional: add a shot of dark rum (or another liqueur) in to each glass before pouring in the Gluvine.